Collapsible fiber matrix reservoir for an e-vaping device

• US 11,357,937 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2016
• Issued: 06/14/2022
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Macko, Jason Andrew, Lipowicz, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Stapleton, Eric S
• Application Number:
  US15/226,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20180035713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,142 Days
• Field of Search: 392403, 604366-368, 604375, 604377, 604384, 604904, 604 90
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0297 Heating of fluids for non specified applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/44 heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material

Abstract

Example embodiments relate to a cartridge configured to house a pre-vapor formulation for an e-vaping device, the cartridge including an inner portion and an outer portion configured to store the pre-vapor formulation. The outer portion includes a plurality of fibers configured to be mobile and/or configured to be substantially free of entanglement with one another. The fibers are configured to be substantially free of entanglement with one another based on the lengths of the plurality of fibers. For example, the lengths of the plurality of fibers may be in a range of about 3 mm to about 7 mm. The lengths may also be about 5 mm.

Claims

1. A cartridge configured to house a pre-vapor formulation for an e-vaping device, the cartridge comprising:

an inner portion, including a heater and a wick; and

an outer portion;

wherein the outer portion includes a storage medium, the storage medium including

a gauze configured to store the pre-vapor formulation, and

a plurality of fibers dispersed in the gauze and configured to be mobile with respect to one another, the gauze and plurality of fibers being different fibers, the plurality of fibers being insoluble polymer fibers which are chemically inert in the presence of ingredients of the pre-vapor formulation; and

wherein respective lengths of the plurality of fibers are in a range of about 3 mm to about 7 mm,

the wick and the heater being configured to draw the pre-vapor formulation from the storage medium based on the heater being activated and vaporizing the pre-vapor formulation during operation of the e-vaping device.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fibers are configured to be mobile with respect to one another based on the respective lengths of the plurality of fibers.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the respective lengths of the plurality of fibers are about 5 mm.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein about 30% of the plurality of fibers have a length of about 3 mm, about 50% of the plurality of fibers have a length of about 5 mm, and about 20% of the plurality of fibers have a length of about 7 mm.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein about 20% of the plurality of fibers have a length of about 3 mm, about 75% of the plurality of fibers have a length of about 5 mm, and about 5% of the plurality of fibers have a length of about 7 mm.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein about 30% of the plurality of fibers have a length of about 3 mm, about 60% of the plurality of fibers have a length of about 5 mm, and about 10% of the plurality of fibers have a length of about 7 mm.

7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a surface area of each of the plurality of fibers is in a range of about 13 in² to about 17 in².

8. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the surface area of each of the plurality of fibers is about 15 in².

9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the gauze is configured to configured to store the pre-vapor formulation.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the gauze and the plurality of fibers are configured to cooperatively wring the pre-vapor formulation from the storage medium, based on the plurality of fibers being free to move independently of each other.

11. A cartridge configured to house a pre-vapor formulation for an e-vaping device, the cartridge comprising:

an inner portion, including a heater and a wick; and

an outer portion;

wherein the outer portion includes a storage medium, the storage medium including

a gauze configured to store the pre-vapor formulation, and

a plurality of fibers dispersed in the gauze and configured to be mobile with respect to one another, the gauze and plurality of fibers being different fibers, the plurality of fibers being insoluble polymer fibers which are chemically inert in the presence of ingredients of the pre-vapor formulation; and

wherein a diameter of one or more of the plurality of fibers is in a range of about 20 μ

m to about 28 μ

m,

the wick and the heater being configured to draw the pre-vapor formulation from the storage medium based on the heater being activated and vaporizing the pre-vapor formulation during operation of the e-vaping device.

12. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein the diameter of one or more of the plurality of fibers is about 24 μ

m.